"On January 14th, 2002, one Muslim (a cattle trader from Shwe
Gun) stepped on a landmine at Taray Poe Kwee village. SPDC and DKBA troops had
planted landmines when they arrived at that village tract. Villagers from Taray
Poe Kwee managed to send the mine victim back home, but he died on the way at
Mae Tha Mu village. On January 31st, 2002, one of Kyaw Wah Hser’s cattle stepped
on a land mine and was killed."

(Source: FTUB.)

16.1 Background

Anti-personnel landmines are victim-activated weapons that
indiscriminately kill and maim civilians, soldiers, elderly people, women,
children and animals. They can cause injury and death long after the end of
hostilities. In Asia, Burma is currently second only to Afghanistan in the
number of new landmine victims, surpassing even Cambodia. Contrary to trends in
the rest of the world, the SPDC has not signed the Mine Ban Treaty and abstained
from the 1999 UN General Assembly vote on the treaty. Of Burma’s 14 states and
divisions, 9 of them are affected by landmines. Evidence suggests that in Karen
State there is one landmine victim everyday. Civilians become landmine victims
in two ways: when they are forced by the military to act as human minesweepers
(see below); and when they accidentally step on mines planted in areas where
civilians reside. More than 14 percent of mine victims in Burma stepped on
landmines within half a kilometer from the center of their village.

In efforts to block supply routes for armed ethnic
organizations, the SPDC plants mines on supply and escape routes used by
villagers and refugees. Villages from which people have fled or have been
forcibly relocated from are also mined to prevent the villagers from returning,
as well as to block access to food, supplies and intelligence to opposition
groups. Landmines have also been planted along streams, paths, roads and passes
that are used by civilians, including those fleeing Burma. It is estimated that
there is one civilian death for every two military casualties associated with
landmines. (Source: Landmine Monitor report-2002.)

16.2 Human Minesweepers

Throughout 2002 some units of the Tatmadaw continued to use
villagers as human minesweepers. This specific targeting of civilians is
contrary to the claims of the SPDC that landmine use has not been directed
against civilian populations. Civilians conscripted for forced portering in
conflict areas are sometimes sent ahead of the troops so that they will detonate
mines. The Landmine Monitor Report from 2002 notes that: "a newly reported
practice demands those taken to porter for the military to manually clear mines
without adequate training or tools. A former porter who escaped from Burmese
Army service told the Landmine Monitor researcher that he was forced to seek
mines using a long sharpened bamboo prod, piercing the ground and removing any
found mines by hand." (For more information see list of incidents at the end
of this chapter.)

16.3 Situation in Border Areas

The border states and divisions of Burma are the most heavily
mined areas in the country, due to the civil war being fought with ethnic groups
living in these areas. The border areas already have problems with security and
adequate health care, and mine pollution only compounds these problems. The
presence of landmines means that ethnic minority people cannot engage in
everyday activities, such as farming, gathering food or traveling, without fear
of being killed or losing limbs due to landmines. In addition, as previously
mentioned, villagers who have been forcibly relocated cannot safely return to
their original villages to collect property, food supplies or check on their
homes.

It is thought that the majority of people injured by
landmines die before they get medical treatment. Mine victims often have limited
or no access to healthcare facilities and may have to walk for days to find
medical care. Sometimes the security situation can mean that no treatment is
available for a long period of time. In some cases, landmine victims have been
turned back by the SPDC before they could reach a hospital. The Landmine Monitor
reports that: "to go from mine-affected Pa-an district [Karen State] to Mae Sot,
Thailand, a distance of 40 kilometers, costs 5,000 Kyats (around US$5) each way,
which is more than two months wages for farmers. In some cases, those who could
not reach any medical attention try to treat themselves with herbal leaves. Some
Burmese migrants to Thailand who are landmine survivors cannot access official
assistance offered by international organizations if they are not accepted into
an organized refugee camp. Since April 2001, the Mae Tao Clinic in Thailand,
which specializes in assisting Burmese migrants, has operated a prosthetics
section." (Source: Landmine Monitor Report 2002.)

16.4 Mine Deployment

The 2002 Landmine Monitor Report stated that at least
thirteen ethnic armed groups, both pro and anti-SPDC, are believed to use
antipersonnel mines. These groups include: Pao People’s Liberation Front (PPLF);
All Burma Muslim Union; and Wa National Army; Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO);
Chin National Army (CNA); Shan State Army (SSA); United Wa State Army (UWSA);
Karenni Army (KA); Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA); Democratic Karen
Buddhist Army (DKBA); All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF); People’s
Defence Forces (PDF); and Myiek-Dawei United Front. (Source: Landmine Monitor
report-2002.)

Mines are force multipliers and thus have been used by
numerically weak combatants on the defensive throughout history. Usually they
are deployed to maximize the advantages of terrain, to deny territory and/or to
force an enemy into pre-organized fields of fire. In mountainous, heavily
forested territory, such as the Dawna Ranges, along the Thai/Burma border, mines
are especially efficient at denying an attacking force access to territory along
narrow jungle trails. Currently however, most of the mines used by opposition
groups are improvised explosive devises (IEPs) and are usually deployed to
defend territory at specific points. They are usually battery operated and
incorporate perishable local materials such as bamboo and thus have a finite
active life span. "The KNLA states that the mines are necessary to protect
internally displaced Karen people (estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands)
from attacks by the Burmese Army." (Source: Landmine Monitor Report 2002.)

The mines used by the SPDC Army are usually industrially
produced from non-perishable, waterproof materials and remain active
indefinitely. Mines from China, Israel, Italy, Russia and the United States have
been used in Burma. Burma produces at least three types of antipersonnel mines.
The MM1, MM2, which are copies of Chinese mines and "claymore-like" mines such
as the MM3. The Indian LTM-76 anti-personnel mine is also still a significant
part of the Tatmadaw’s landmine inventory despite its’ age. (Source: Landmine
Monitor Report 2002)

Although the SPDC uses mines defensively around military
outposts, the majority of mines laid by the Tatmadaw are deployed to achieve an
offensive objective and are targeted primarily against the local civilian
population. The SPDC throughout 2002 used mines as part of its’ four cuts
strategy to cut off intelligence, supplies, recruits, and funds to the
opposition armies.

16.5 De-mining

In Burma today, mines are seldom if ever marked and their
position is rarely recorded. This presents great problems for any future
de-mining effort. At present, villagers are forced to resort to two improvised
methods of mine clearance. One is to sacrifice their valuable livestock by
running them through a suspect area. The other method is to literally sweep the
area with an extremely long handled bamboo rake. To date in Burma, no
humanitarian de-mining activities have taken place. Although mine clearance by
the SPDC for some commercial ventures is believed to have occurred, no
international aid agencies have been permitted to set up programs in mine
affected areas. (Source: Landmine Monitor Report 2002.)

16.6 Thailand-Burma Border

In 2002 the Tatmadaw continued laying landmines along its
borders with Thailand. As part of a plan to "fence the country," troops in
Tenasserim division were ordered to lay mines along the border. (Source:
Landmine Monitor report-2002.) Mines have also been laid between all military
camps along a cross-state route in upper Karen State from Kyankkyi in the west
to Hsawhta on the Salaween River at the Thai border, as part of an attempt to
cut off the travel routes of insurgents. However, these mines have also
effectively blocked refugees from using these routes to seek asylum in Thailand.

The Landmine monitor reports that: "DKBA combatants also
alleged that they purchased mines and components from Thai businessmen who
operate logging concessions in DKBA-controlled areas close to Myawaddy. The DKBA
also controls a timber concession area by surrounding it with antipersonnel
mines. Thai businessmen obtain permission to cut the forest from the DKBA, and
the DKBA place mines to deter attacks upon their revenue base by the rival KNU,
while simultaneously preventing the businessmen from unilaterally enlarging
their concession area." (Source: Landmine Monitor Report 2002.)

In Karenni State, mines are allegedly laid in paddy fields
which forces villagers to grow opium instead. Mines are also used by
drug-traffickers to protect methamphetamine manufacturing factories,
specifically in Shan State at Namsan and Hsi Hseng. The Shan State Army [South]
reportedly mined areas around its bases straddling the border between Thailand
and Burma. (Source: Landmine Monitor Report 2002.)

16.7 Bangladesh-Burma Border

The Bangladesh-Burma border, with 270 kilometers comprised of
dense forests, hills and 60 kilometers of sea, is the longest minefield in the
country. Mines have been laid on this border since the 1991 mass exodus of
250,000 Rohingya Muslims from Arakan State. The SPDC has said that the
minefields are necessary to stop cross-border movement by armed ethnic
opposition groups. However they also prevent or make it extremely dangerous for
refugees to cross the border and impede cross-border economic activities. There
were reports that the Na Sa Ka (village militia) has continued laying mines
along this border in 2002.

16.8 Landmines – partial list of incidents 2002

Shan State

On the morning of 25 January 2002, at about 8:30 am, 2 mine
victims died in the Ho Murng area just near the Thai border opposite Mae Hong
Son province.They were:

The villagers were trying to enter Thailand in order to find
a job. Since 13th January 2002, Thai check points along
the border refused to allow people who could not show their identity cards to
enter the country. Thus in order to avoid check points, Nang Ing and Sai Ku had
to followed a jungle track, where they stepped on land mines. (Source:
Freedom)

Karen State

Nyaung-lay-bin District

On 2 June 2002, Paw-pi-doe villager, Mang Kyi stepped on a
land mine planted by SPDC troops at Po-deh and was severely wounded. (Source:
KIC)

On 3 June 2002 Noh-nya-la villager, Maung Day stepped on a
land mine planted by SPDC troops and was severely wounded. (Source: KIC)

On 3 July 2002, Kwe-lay-kho villager Saw Tu Tu was killed on
the spot by a landmine planted by troops from SPDC LIB-92, Column-2 led by Bo
Min Thein. (Source: KIC)

Pa-pun District

On 4 July 2002, Naw Nge (F,18) from Oo-pu-tu village,
Hlaing-bwe Township, was wounded by a land mine planted by DKBA 999 Ka Ba Min (aka)
Lweh Ka Paw. Naw Nge lost one of her legs when she steppen on a landmine while
walking to the field hut to get a basket she had hidden and collect buffaloes
she had left grazing, after the departure of DKBA troops. (Source: KIC)

On 23 October, 2002 troops from SPDC Tactical Command 3, LIB
1, column 2, led by battalion second in command, Kyaw Shwe came to Bwa-doe area,
Bu-tho township and planted land mines which killed a villager and a buffalo.
(Source: KIC)

On 10 November 2002, Kyaw Myint Than, commander of SPDC IB
98, of South West Command summoned the village heads of Noh-lah, Htee-saw-meh,
Pway-htaw-roe, Noh-gaw, Po-khay, Bler-per, Thwa-kho-lor, Ma-htaw, Khaw-kla and
Ta-dwee-kho villages and instructed them to have each of the villages build a
hut along the bank of Yun-za-lin river and to send two villagers from each
village to stand sentinel, both day and night, for security of the motor road
from Htee-saw-meh to Koo-seik villages. He also instructed them to get a bullock
cart, fully loaded with logs, to drive back and forth on the road for clearance
of land mines, every morning.(Source: KIC)

On 12 November 2002, Company commander Aung Than of SPDC IB
98 ordered Thwa-kho-lor village head and villagers to search and clear land
mines on the motor roads from 7 am to 10 am, each day, using 10 villagers with
two hoes. (Source: KIC)

Doo-pla-ya District

On 27 December 2001 at 9:40 am, Htee-moo-ta villager Saw Yin
Aye (M, 28) of Kaw-ka-reik Township, lost a leg to a land mine planted by SPDC
controlled DKBA Battalion 907. He did not get any compensation or treatment.
(Source: KIC)

On 7 February 2002, Htee-moo-ta villager, Pah Tweh Htee
(M,48), stepped on a landmine planted by DKBA near his farm hut and died
immediately. (Source: KIC)

On 18 February 2002, at 4:00 am, Noh-po villager Maung Soe
Myint, (M, 25) son of Saw Maung Heh, was seriously wounded by a DKBA landmine,
at the foot of the hill to the east of Noh-po village, Kaw-ka-reik township.
(Source: KIC)

Toungoo District

From the beginning of January 2002 up to now, the SPDC
Southern Military Commander, Aung Min and No. 1 Operation Commander Soe Thein
ordered battalions IB 39 and IB 53, to seize villagers from Kaw-soe-ko, Ler-ko,
Wah-tho-ko, Baw-ga-li and the other villages near the motor road. These troops
forced the villagers to cut bushes, dig earth and clear landmines, for a
distance of 2 yards, on both sides of Kaw-thay-doe and Bu-hsa-khee motor road.
Any family, which could not give labor, had to pay 10,000 Kyat. (Source: KIC)

On3 January 2002, four cattle were killed by
landmines, as the SPDC troops chased villagers they wanted to round up for
forced labour in Baw-ga-li area of Tah-da-bin Township. (Source: KIC)

On 1 March 2002, a column of SPDC IB 264, led by battalion
second in command Min Thaw took Ga-mu-doe villager, Saw Ah Khee from the west of
Ka-law-wa area, with the column. Saw Ah Khee stepped on a landmine and lost his
leg.(Source: KIC)

On 5 March 2002, troops from SPDC IB 53, led by battalion
commander Thu Rein Naing, came to Hsaw-wa-doe village and planted landmines.
Hsaw-wa-doe village Saw Pu Doo Lu, M-35, son of Saw Hsa Po, who had been
arrested by these troops was released on 6 March 2002, and on his return home he
stepped on one of the landmines and lost his right leg. (Source: KIC)

On 6 March 2002,troops from SPDC IB 53, led by second
in command Kyaw San and Bo Tin Maung Win planted landmines near Kaw-Thay-doe
village. Kaw-thay-doe villager Saw Poo Loo Lu, M-35, stepped on land and lost
his right leg. (Source: KIC)

On 22 March 2002, troops from SPDC IB 264 planted landmines
on the road of Baw-ga-li village and Maw-ko-doe villagers Saw Aung Pay Htoo (M,
40) son of Saw Ka Baw and Saw Hser Wah (M, 14) son of Saw Chit Maung stepped
down a landmine and died on the spot. (Source: KIC)

On 2 April 2002, troops from SPDC IB 30, led by Lieutenant
Colonel Ko Ko planted land mines, on foot paths. At 11:46am Naw La Lu aged 25,
from Kaw-thay-doe village, daughter of Saw Neh Neh was killed by one of the land
mines, while Naw Heh Kree, daughter of Saw Htoo Pwe was severely wounded.
(Source: KIC)

In April 2002, SPDC IB 39 battalion commander Win Soe,
ordered villagers in Baw-ga-li area to clear the Pet-let-wa-Kaw-thay-doe motor
road. Troops from SPDC IB 26, led by battalion commander Khin Maung Cho forced
Leik-tho villagers to clear to a distance of 150 yards around the electric
pylons and also planted land mines close to the foot of these electric pylon. On
5 April 2002, at 4:15 pm, Saw Than Myint aged 52 of Leik-tho village, son of Saw
Thein Maung was seriously wounded by one of the land mines. (Source: KIC)

In April troops from SPDC No. 3 Tactical Command, led by
commander Thet Oo ordered Baw-ga-li villagers to make 500 home-made land mine
switches and ordered the cease-fire group to plant land mines one foot paths and
in plantations. As a result, it had become a serious problem for the villagers
to go out and find vegetable or work on their farms and plantations. (Source:
KIC)

and sent them to Tha-aye-hta to go in front of the bulldozer
as human mine detectors. (Source: KIC)

On 25 April 2002, Za-yat-gyi-nor-ka-la villager Saw Maung (M,
27) son of Ka Lagyi and Daw Ma Oh stepped on a land mine between Hti-lo and
Tha-pa-kyaw, planted by the SPDC troops and died on the spot while his brother
Saw La Pay (M, 25) was severely wounded. (Source: KIC)

On 26 April 2002, Mau-thay-doe villager Saw Kee-ku-htoo (M,
16), son of Saw Klo Toe stepped on a land mine planted by SPDC IB 264 troops at
Klay-klo-ni and died on the spot. (Source: KIC)

On December 3 2002, troops from SPDC LIB 351 planted hundreds
of landmines on the footpaths in Maw-nay-pwa area. (Source: KIC)

Pa-an District

On 24 December 2001, combined troops of an SPDC army unit led
by column commander Tin Win and DKBA Brigade 999 led by Moe Joe, totaling about
100 troops, demanded 30,000 Kyat from Lo-baw village, 30,000 Kyat from Mae-plet-wah-khee
village and 30,000 kyat from Day-law-pya village. These troops also looted 78
chickens, 7 goats, 4 pigs, 21 tins of rice and 6 Pyi of chili, and planted 40
landmines in Mae-plet-wah-khee area. On 26 December 2001 these troops burned
down Mae-plet-wah-khee village and looted from Day-law-pya villagers 20
chickens, one goat and one pig. (Source: KIC)

On 1 July 2002, combined troops from SPDC LIB 205 column 2
led by major Kyaw Naing and DKBA 999 troops led by brigade second in command Kya
In burned down the village of Ka-law-lu. As troops led by DKBA Ko Win and Bo
Lweh Ka Paw from the combined troops planted land mines on hill ridges, near
forest edges and the paddy field huts, said to be on the order of General Pah
Nwee, the villagers had to stop working on their paddy fields. On that day,
these troops fired heavy weapons at the hill paddy fields saying that the Karen
resistance groups could hide in those places, making the villagers flee.
(Source: KIC)

On 2 July 2002, combined Troops from SPDC LIB 205 column 2
led by Major Kyaw Naing and DKBA 999 troops led by Brigade second in command Kya
In burnt down the village of Si-pah-day-khee. Later they planted land mines
inside and outside of the village and around the paddy fields to discourage the
villagers from going back and staying. Currently, there are eight villages,
whose residents have been prohibited from working on their paddy fields.
(Source: KIC)

On 4 July 2002, Naw Nge (F,18) from Oo-pu-tu village,
Hlaing-bwe Township, was wounded by a land mine planted by DKBA 999 Ka Ba Min (aka)
Lweh Ka Paw and lost one of her legs while she was going to the field hut after
the departure of DKBA troops to get back her basket she had hidden and collect
the buffaloes she had left grazing. (Source: KIC)

Mergui-Tavoy Division

On 10 May 2002, Maung Win Mying 25, son of U Sa Lay, of Zee
village, Ye-buy Township, a cattle trader, stepped on a land mine planted by
SPDC LIB 103, at Myin-kwa-nyo place in the Thai territory, and died on the spot.
(Source: KIC)

Karenni State

On 12 August 2002,at 9:50 am, a Pswadoh villager
named Tarmaw Mee, 48, was out looking for vegetables. He stepped on a landmine
planted by Burmese troops from LIB No. 428. He died near Mawchi-Taungoo car
road. After a friend of his informed his family, his wife Naw Nae Neh,
accompanied by four villagers, went to look for his body the following morning
and found it at 11:30. When they moved his dead body, another landmine exploded.
The explosion seriously wounded two and left three others slightly injured.
(Source: KNAHR)

On 14 September 2002,at 9:15am, a Hosakee villager,
Saw Tarpae Leh (son of Saw Ne Hsei and Naw Marli), age 20, stepped on a landmine
on the Mawchi-Taungoo road at Leh Laeper Point No. 78. The landmine had been
laid by Burmese troops from LIB No. 307. (Source: KNAHR)

On 15 September 2002, a group of Pwadoh villagers were
ordered by the Burmese commander from LIB No. 302 and 307 to work on the
Mawchi-Taungoo Road. Tarmaw Pae, 35, stepped on a landmine that had been laid by
the Burmese troops. Saw Thatu Meh, 30, lost his left leg, Saw Thar Paw, 35, was
wounded in his right leg, Saw Lekee, 28, was hit in a left rib, both Saw Kaw Ba,
20, and Saw Tudu, 18, were wounded in the face. Tarmaw Pae’s wife, who was 5
months pregnant, was wounded in the groin and calf and Naw Eh Paw was killed.(Source: KNAHR)

On October 19th, 2002, a large army of about 400 SPDC troops,
arrived with DKBA guides at our village. They demanded our village, Mae Tha Mu
village, to select 45 male villagers to work as porters. The huge column then
patrolled Ka Mar Hta, Kyaw Ta Lay Kho, Taray Poe Kwee, Htee Ta Blu Hta, Daw Ka
Kyar, Mae Taw Khee, Paw Baw Khee, Wa Mee Klah, Haw Thoo Khee, Htee Par Rah and
Htee Mu Khee villages collecting other villager porters, as well as 10 prisoners
who wore blue shirts and sarongs. We were not allowed to talk each other during
the trip, so, we did not know each others’ names. The loads we had to carry were
of shells/munitions, rice, pots, and other foodstuffs. Each load was between 15
to 20 viss1. The troops ordered us to walk in front of the column as they were
afraid of being ambushed.

Unfortunately, a porter from Wa Mee Klah village stepped on a
landmine on October 20th, 2002, and the ball of his foot was injured. A DKBA
soldier took a machete and cut off the leg from the calf down. He was then sent
to the Myaing Gyi Ngu to be treated. His wound had not healed when he came back
to his village, so he later went to a refugee camp in Thailand to get proper
treatment. Along the same journey, two other villager porters stepped on
landmines and both of them were immediately killed.

At that time the weather was still cold, and villagers hadn’t
brought their blankets with them. We had to follow the troops for one and a half
months until December 2002, when we were released. At that time, the harvest
season was almost over, and villager porters had by then lost some of their
crops.

"Compared with previous years, our villages have suffered the
most since November 2001. There were many landmines (around 1,000 landmines)
laid by SPDC and DKBA soldiers at this time, the harvest period of the year.
Because of a landmine, a monk who was invited for a Buddhist ceremony from
another village was killed. A female villager (a former teacher) was killed by a
landmine planted on her rice field. The last land mine victim was Pah Shwe Htee
(48 years) from Htee Moo Hta. He stepped on a landmine on 7th
February, 2002 and died. Landmines killed villagers’ livestock too.

Later, Karen guerrillas arrived around our village and
assisted to clear the landmines but they could not find all the mines. The SPDC
and DKBA not only brought landmines to our village but also yar mar
(Methamphetamine) when they started stationed in November. They have been
selling villagers at a cheap price2 or exchanging with the harvest."

"On 2nd March, the SPDC troops came to my home village in
Karen State, just a few hours walk from the Thai border. The villagers tried to
escape to the forest, taking with them what they could. When the troops arrived,
they caught the chicken, killed the pigs and burned down some houses. They also
destroyed the rice stocks.

"One villager was killed and two others maimed by the
landmines planted by the soldiers. Three other villagers were forced to work as
army porters, to walk ahead of the troops in the front line." (Source: CSW
8-5-2002)